Two of the key so-called "faceless men" behind the dumping of Kevin Rudd in 2010 have backed his proposals to ensure a Labor leader is never overthrown in such a way ever again.

Late yesterday the Prime Minister announced changes to the ALP rules which will give the party's rank and file membership a say in choosing the leader.

"The mechanisms outlined in the proposed rule change prevent anyone from just wandering in one day or one night and saying "OK sunshine, it's over," Mr Rudd said.

Education Minister Bill Shorten, who was instrumental in ending Mr Rudd's first tilt at the job and then switched sides to end Julia Gillard's time in The Lodge, says the changes will "modernise" the party.

"I think that the tradition of just having the parliamentary party elect the leader, whilst it's been a longstanding tradition, I think for a number of good reasons it is time to modernise the way the party picks its leaders," he told ABC Radio in Melbourne.

"One thing we've learned is that we need to be very transparent about our stability and how we propose a leader."

And one of the key union leaders behind Mr Rudd's ouster, Australian Workers Union Paul Howes, has also welcomed the move.

"Party reform is necessary and important and I think the proposals that Kevin Rudd has put up are smart," he told Channel Seven.